New Faces at Pittsford Schools: The Leaders and Teachers to Know Before 2026-27 Begins

August in Pittsford looks the same every year — backpacks by the door, supply lists on the counter. This fall, a few new people are stepping into roles worth knowing before the first bell rings.

Andrea Lynch: Coming Home to Lead at Calkins Road Middle School

Andrea Lynch: Coming Home to Lead at Calkins Road Middle School

According to PCSD's official announcements, Andrea Lynch has been selected as the new assistant principal of Calkins Road Middle School, transitioning from her role at Mendon High School — within the same district.

That detail matters. Lynch already knows the culture, the families, and the standards PCSD holds. For parents, the AP is often the first call when something happens. Bringing someone into that role who is already part of the Pittsford fabric means less time getting acquainted and more time showing up for kids. Her internal appointment signals a district that grows its own leaders rather than looking elsewhere.

What does it mean for a school community when its new leadership already knows its name?

Jay Ballard Takes the Wheel as Director of Transportation

Jay Ballard Takes the Wheel as Director of Transportation

PCSD has hired Jay Ballard as Director of Transportation, bringing nearly three decades of school transportation leadership to the role.

That depth carries real weight. Dozens of routes through a spread-out community, special needs accommodations, weather variables — nearly thirty years means Ballard has navigated all of it. Families with questions about bus routes or stop locations as the year approaches can contact the PCSD transportation department directly.

Before the new faces, a word about teachers already here and doing it well. PCSD's Honor an Educator program recognized three teachers this year: Brittany Heffler at Park Road Elementary, and — in an uncommon double recognition — both Bridget Bauman and Sandy Stewart at Mendon Center Elementary.

These awards don't come from central office. They come from nominations made by families and colleagues who had something specific to say about a specific person. Two educators from the same building honored in the same year says something about Mendon Center as a community. If there's a Pittsford teacher who gave your child something that stayed, the Honor an Educator nomination page is where that acknowledgment begins.

What to Watch as September Approaches

What to Watch as September Approaches

The PCSD Board of Education meets August 11 at 5:00 PM in the McCluski Room at Barker Road Middle School — the final session before school opens, where staffing and start-of-year preparations are approved. The district is also actively hiring teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and custodians; the breadth of those openings is a reminder of how many people hold a school district together every day.

For families wanting to stay ahead of what's coming, PCSD's website is updated regularly. The people stepping into new roles this fall are stepping into a community that notices — and that's not pressure. That's trust.